Sabah and Sarawak parliamentary seats must be immediately increased to 35% of total parliamentary seats to block the overt racist and extreme sentiments played up by BN and PN to cover up their failed economic management that has imposed hardship to the rakyat and businesses. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar disappointed many when he said that the proposal cannot be implemented in time before the 15th general election.
However, this should not stop a constitutional amendment in Parliament to put into practice this 35% principle announced by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri. This proposal should be enshrined in the Federal Constitution now, to be implemented in future at subsequent general elections. This proposal is neither controversial nor contentious since no political party had so far dared to oppose the increase in the number of parliamentary seats in Sabah and Sarawak from the current 25% to 35%.
PH will support such constitutional amendments thereby ensuring its passage with the required 2/3 majority. This is similar to PH’s earlier support for the constitutional amendment to restore the status of Sabah and Sarawak as regions equal to Peninsular Malaysia, as outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) signed between PH leaders and the Prime Minister in September 2021.
Enshrining the 35% principle in the Federal Constitution is crucial when BN and PN, including its non-Muslim Ministers in Cabinet, have kept silent and lent their tacit support to PAS’ overt extremism and racism that risks eroding the rights of non-Muslims. PAS has openly interfered and disturbed the lifestyle, customary habits, and cultural practices of non-Muslims.
PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang has threatened national unity and disrupted religious harmony with racist and extremist remarks against minority groups, the latest one by insulting non-Muslims with false accusations of being the root of corruption in Malaysia. Despite multiple police reports being lodged throughout the country, the people are still awaiting for action to be taken by the authorities.
Using racism and extremism is a useful device to cover up the failed economic management and Ministerial incompetence that has led to financial hardship caused by rising inflation, a rapidly depreciating ringgit that dropped to a 24 year low of RM4.54 to the US dollar yesterday, severe labour shortage, inconsistent policy making and U-turns, bureaucratic red-tape and poor governance. Malaysia, especially Sabah and Sarawak cannot afford racists and extremists to run and ruin the country.